Rios outpoints Diaz Jr.

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

Thompson Boxing Promotions returned to the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California for the Path to Glory series as Miguel Diaz Jr. (9-0, 4KOs) of Allentown, Pennsylvania took on San Antonio’s Joseph Rios (11-7-2, 4KOs) in the scheduled eight round flyweight main event for the vacant WBC USNBC flyweight title. Miguel Diaz came out jabbing in the opening round as Joseph Rios worked his way inside smothering Diaz. In round two Rios continued to smother connecting with right hands as Diaz continued to work patiently off the jab. The jab began to show its effect for Diaz as Rios began to bleed from the nose in round three but that did not stop Rios as he continued to work inside with hooks to head and body.

The Texas fighter continued to give Miguel Diaz trouble as he continued to smother him in round four Diaz used the ring to jab and began throwing the left hook. Miguel Diaz came out throwing more combinations in round six and continued to use his distance and jab the aggressive Rios as he cut the ring. Continuing to use the ring and circle Diaz began to frustrate Rios as he continued to chase and smother Diaz with punches backing him into the ropes. Diaz used the jab and worked from the outside keeping his distance but Rios is aggressiveness helped in the eyes of the judges. In the end all three judges scored it 77-75 for Joseph Rios as he wins a split decision and wins the vacant WBC USNBC flyweight title. With the win Joseph Rios improves to (12-7-2, 4KOs) and Miguel Diaz Jr. suffers his first loss of his career and goes to (9-1, 4KOs).

The co-main event featured junior welterweights San Fernando’s Rigoberto “Asesino” Flores (5-1, 2KOs) and Joaquin “Chico” Chavez (1-3-2, 1KO) of Commerce, California battled it out. Joaquin Chavez had the faster hands in round one and came out boxing using the jab and combinations as Flores landed the harder punches. In round two Chavez began to bleed from a cut above the left eye as Flores began picking at it connecting with right hands. Using a flurry of combinations in round three, Chavez frustrated Flores but Flores continued to press and be aggressive as they exchanged till the end of the round. Chavez boxed in round four as he began using his distance as the always aggressive Flores continued to chase. The referee Raul Caiz Jr. stop the action momentarily in round five as Flores is mouthpiece fell but the action continued as both exchanged. The final round both came out and continued firing away as the crowd got their money’s worth in a bout in which both fighters slugged it out throughout the fight. Two judges scored the bout 58-56 while the one scored it 59-55 for Rigoberto Flores as he wins a unanimous decision and improves to (6-1, 1 KO). Joaquin Chavez who took the fight on 24 hour notice and fought 1 week ago gave Flores a tough fight and goes to (1-4-2, 1KO).

In the opening bout of the evening Heavyweights Javier Torres (2-0, 1KO) of Long Beach and Lancaster’s Avery Gibson (0-0-1) went the distance going four rounds. Both tested one another with the jab early in round one shortly after Torres landed a low blow clearly below the belt line as Gibson took a knee and was given time to recover, once Gibson recovered referee Ray Corona deducted a point from Torres without a warning. The action continued in round two as both exchanged, Torres went down as referee Ray Corona ruled it a slip drawing boos from the crowd. Gibson continued to work the jab fighting from the outside as he staggered Torres momentarily with a one-two combination. In the final round Torres came out aggressive as he sensed the urgency, moments later a left hook from Torres landed solidly as he rallied. Despite the point deduction all three judges scored it 38-37 with one judge favoring Gibson and the two other had it in favor for Javier Torres as he walked away with a split decision. Javier Torres remains undefeated as he improves to (3-0, 1KO) in winning a close one. Avery Gibson is now (0-1-1) as he put on a good fight.

St. Louis’s Derrick “Whoop Dat Ass” Murray (4-0, 3KOs) and Pedro Toledo (1-0) excited the crowd exchanging knockdowns in going the distance. Murray landed a lightning quick left hook that scored a flash knockdown in the opening seconds of the bout, Toledo quickly got up as he continued to fire away and exchange. Trading punches in the center of the ring in round two Murray countered effectively as Toledo continued to fire away. In round three Murray began to tire as Toledo landed solidly with short right hands as he continued to press. The fourth and final round both clashed heads as referee Raul Caiz Jr. checked both fighters but there appeared to be no cuts, the action continued as Toledo smothered the fading Murray a right hand by Toledo sent Murray to the canvas as all three judges scored it a draw 37-37 in an exciting super featherweight bout. Derrick Murray goes to (4-0-1, 3KOs) and Pedro Toledo is now (1-0-1).

Eugene “G Man” McClellan (8-0, 3KOs) of St. Petersburg, Florida won a unanimous decision over Mexicali’s Mike Noriega (4-0, 4KOs) in a six round Jr. Middleweight bout. Noriega came out charging at the start of the bell shooting the right hand as McClellan worked off the jab later in the round Noriega began to dig hard to the body. In round two the Mexican fighter continued to land thumping body shots followed by right hands as McClellan boxed from the outside using the jab.

The G man continued to work off the jab in round three as Noriega began to bleed from the nose. Noriega still continued to fire away at the body as McClellan boxed keeping the aggressive Noriega away with jabs. The action continued in round five with Noriega still pounding away at the body pressing forward while McClellan used the ring and boxed away with the jab as Noriega’s right eye began to swell. The sixth and final round McClellan boxed and Noriega’s aggressive style made this an entertaining boxer vs. puncher matchup but McClellan displayed more ring generalship as the judges scored it 60-54, 58-56, and 58-56 all three in favor for the winner Eugene McClellan as he improves to (9-0, 3KOs), Mike Noriega was tough in his outing as he goes to (4-1, 4KOs).

In attendance at ringside coming of his valiant effort last Saturday was Riverside’s Josesito Lopez as many fans had the chance to take pictures and meet Lopez. Other notable fighters at ringside, new WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, former world title challenger Urbano Antillon, hall of famers Bobby Chacon and Danny “Little Red” Lopez. Thompson Boxing returns next month Friday October 19 to the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario California.